Frequently Asked Questions

In the current COVID-19 scenario, we are only selling pre-purchased tickets ONLINE or via the Portarlington Post Office.

This is to ensure we can manage the number of people on board due to limited and allocated seating and to ensure the boarding process is effective and safe.

When boarding, you can present your pre-purchased ticket via your electronic device or in a printed version.

To purchase a return ticket you will need to select two one-way tickets.

1. Select your outbound trip and Add to cart.
2. At the checkout, you will then be able to select your return trip.

We certainly do accept companion cards.

We suggest calling our Customer Care line on (03) 9514 8959 or emailing [email protected] to add a companion traveller to an existing booking.

This ferry is a privately owned and operated business and it is not currently linked to the public transport system.

For most concessions, you will need to have one of the following cards:

• Centrelink Health Care Card (cards issued in the name of a child are not eligible)
• Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
• Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
• Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card for all conditions.
• Seniors cards

For more information please visit > https://services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/about-concessions

All children 12 years of age or under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while on board the ferry or within the ferry docking area. Children 13 years and above can travel on their own when booked 48 hours in advice with the Port Phillip Ferries team by calling 03 9514 8959 or emailing [email protected]

As a measure apart of Port Phillip Ferries COVID19 safety response if you are feeling unwell, please don’t travel.

Effective 9 December 2020; Should the circumstances of your health change between the time of ticket purchase and date of travel, you can obtain a credit by contacting our customer service on (03) 9514 8959 or [email protected] up until the time of service departure.

Boarding Opens: 20 minutes prior to departure and Boarding Closes: 3 minutes prior to departure. If you are travelling with a bike please also allow extra boarding time to load and secure it.

As we are a public ferry service we are unable to hold vessels for late passengers. Failure to adhere to boarding times may result in you missing your cruise. If you miss your booked service, you are not entitled to a refund.

Click Here for alternative travel suggestions if you have missed your service.

As always, safety is the number one priority for Port Phillip Ferries. We are maintaining a number of measures to keep passengers safe on-board during this time.

To help slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) the Victoria State Government have mandated the compulsory wearing of fitted face masks in Victoria for any person leaving home (regardless of where they live).

The Victorian Government changes to wearing face mask rules effective from 11:59pm Sunday 6 December do not change the mandatory wearing of face masks during pre-boarding, whilst onboard and when exiting Port Phillip Ferries vessels.

Face masks remain mandatory if you are unable to stay further than 1.5 metres away from people not in your household.

Persons not wearing or refusing to wear a fitted face may be prohibited from travelling onboard Port Phillip Ferries vessels unless the individual has a lawful exception for not wearing a fitted face mask.

A fitted face mask is not required in some circumstances including;

• Infant and children under the age of 12 years
• A person who is affected by a relevant medical condition, including problems with their breathing, a serious condition of the face, a disability or a mental health condition.
• When consuming food, drink or medication.
• During emergencies

For further information please refer to the Victorian Government website; https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-masks-vic-covid-19#exceptions-for-not-wearing-a-face-covering

From 11:59pm Sunday 6 December, 2020 with the easing of state government restrictions the socially distanced and responsible service of alcohol is available onboard at our licensed cafe. You are also able to purchase snacks, caffeine, juice or fizzy drink fix onboard at our café.

In the current COVID-19 situation, we have reduced tickets available to allow for adequate social distancing.

You MUST pre-book a ticket ONLINE or via the Portarlington Post Office. No tickets will be sold at the vessel.

This allows us to manage the seating capacity.

Bicycles are most welcome, and we do not currently charge for bicycles to come on board. Isn’t that spoketacular?!

We can only carry 20 bikes at a time on each vessel, so make sure to book in a rack to avoid disappointment. When selecting passenger type in your online booking you are also able to choose how many bikes you are travelling with.

Please also allow extra boarding time to load and secure bikes.

Negative. Unfortunately, we cannot allow Vespas or motorbikes onboard our vessels – but we do accommodate wheelchairs and motorised mobility scooters on board our ferries for those with accessibility needs.

Any decision to cancel or delay the scheduled ferry service may be as a result of adverse weather conditions and/or technical failures. Any decision to cancel a service will be made to ensure the safety of our passengers, crew, and the vessel and the likely impact on passenger comfort.

Customers will be advised as soon as any decisions are made to adjust the schedule via our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter channels. We will also have alerts on our website. If you would like to receive SMS alerts direct to your mobile phone, please email us at [email protected] with your full name and mobile number.

You betcha! Our gift cards are live and for sale. Woohoo. They can be purchased here or via the purple ‘Book’ button above our main menu.

Guide dogs and assistance animals are welcome on board our vessels, provided you and your assistance animal carry the appropriate/valid accreditation to travel.

For details on what is deemed a valid accreditation visit Public Transport Victoria or click here

Other pets or animals are not permitted on board. Our vessel does not have the space or facilities to cater to animals, and the decision is made for the comfort of the pets and other passengers. We appreciate your understanding.

To redeem, select Gift Card as a payment type during checkout and enter the gift card number.

Refer to the highlighted image below:

It’s started! The Geelong/Docklands service commenced on Monday, 2nd December, 2019, with two services daily between Geelong and Docklands. Head to our Geelong page for the full scoop.

The free parking promotion with Geelong Cunningham Pier concluded on 26 January 2021. Paid parking arrangements are now applicable.

Standard Parking Rates

• A standard flat rate of $12* applies.
• Parking is free on Sunday only.
• Please note there may be changed parking conditions during public events and on public holidays.

(*rates are subject to availability and change).

How parking works on The Pier
There are 150 parking spots available on The Pier, including 4 accessible parking bays. Cunningham Pier do not reserve parking spaces. Spots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is recommended to get in early to secure a park. Also, be sure to allow time to find another suitable car park elsewhere if there are no spots left.

Please contact Geelong Cunningham Pier for further info: (03) 52226444

Alternative parking options can be found on the following links;

City of Greater Geelong. / Central Geelong. 

Yes. Yes. Yes! 🎉
We have cafés onboard on both vessels, so you can get your coffee fix during the journey. Not to mention, we have other cold drinks and sweet and savoury snacks from the likes of Bellarine Smokehouse and Manzanillo olive grove.

We have four toilets on board each vessel, all on the lower deck. We also have bathrooms that meet accessibility needs.

Yes. Passengers are more than welcome to bring prams on board. We have accessible areas on the bottom level on the ferry that will allow you to park or sit next to your pram during the journey.

If you believe you have lost property on the ferry, please email us at [email protected] with the following details to log your item: full name, lost item, date of item lost, phone number.

The operations team will then be in touch only if that item was located. These emails will be monitored within business hours of Mon – Fri, 9 – 5 pm. If the item is located, it will be held at our office in Docklands for collection. Any unclaimed items will be donated to charity or disposed of responsibly after 60 days.

Yes! We facilitate wheelchairs and motorised mobility scooters on board our ferries. This provides access to our café, bathrooms, and fabulous views on our lower deck. We use ramps to board our vessels and our crew are there to assist.

Guide dogs and assistance animals are welcome on board our vessels, provided you and your assistance animal carry the appropriate/valid accreditation to travel.

For details on what is deemed a valid accreditation visit Public Transport Victoria or click here

Other pets or animals are not permitted on board. Our vessel does not have the space or facilities to cater to animals, and the decision is made for the comfort of the pets and other passengers. We appreciate your understanding.

Yes! Our priority seats are red and are marked with signage for easy identification.

Portarlington:
There is ample all-day parking within close proximity to where we depart at Portarlington Pier. This parking is all free (huzzah!). For commuters wanting to park all day, we recommend parking in Henderson’s Reserve in front of the bowls club.

Geelong:
Geelong commuters – Free Parking is currently available at Cunningham Pier until 26 Jan 2021. If you fall outside of this offer, you can head here for some information on parking options in Central Geelong.

Docklands:
Take a look at look at this handy little website for parking options in and around Docklands. Simply enter the date and times you are looking to park, and it will recommend the best options.

There is a great variety of winery tours, scenic tours, or tailored transport options for getting around the Bellarine Peninsula. Head to our ‘Destination – Portarlington’ page for a full rundown on what to do and how to get around. Have a super time!

We dock extremely close to the Free CBD tram network and are only a short walk away from Southern Cross Station. Find more information on our location and access to transport click here.

We do have luggage racks where you can leave your luggage for the duration of the journey.

You cannot leave your luggage on the vessel if you are exiting the ferry. We do not have any luggage storage or holding space at either of our docks.

No, sorry. Port Phillip Ferries does not accept the transit of unaccompanied items on the ferry, including bags, luggage, or other freight.